Blog Entry ending Tuesday, January 28, 2025

Posted by Hayden Category: Uncategorized



Gigging week started Tuesday, January 21, 2025, at Anning Park, Bibra Lake. The day was shaping up to be a warm one, peeking at 40°C. I arrived with plenty of time to set up. Desperate for a coffee, Rose from the coffee van delivered me one whilst I was setting up. Shirley brought along her laminator to laminate a sign that I made up with “square reader payment accepted”. Just in case those that don’t have cash can still tip. I used the mini power station that is my van to run the laminator. Thanks again, Shirley.
Actually, it turned out to be a good haul with over $100 in tips made, plus my retainer. More than what the Madora Bay market yielded by over 110%.

Thursday, January 23, 2025.
I checked the oil and water in the van, filled up, and then went back to my old stomping ground, Lake Grace. I sat and listened to the hum of the Ford as it coasted along through the farmlands near Williams. The paddocks were lined with freshly harvested stubble from the summer crops. Then, I turned left to Narrogin, where I enjoyed a nice kebab, then back on the road to Harrismith, Tarin Rock, and then I arrived in Lake Grace after lunch. I pulled up where Mum lives; we had a cup of tea and talked until it was time for her to go to the town pool for her daily swim. I went to the pub for a cheeky pint, talked to some locals that I knew, and headed for a catch-up with my mates, Dean and Michelle, who happened to be home.
I spent time catching up, and then it was time to head home for a lamb chop dinner which Mum had prepared. It was delicious. It was an early night, and I slept in the spare room in the single bed.

I woke Saturday, January 25, 2025, feeling like I needed another ten hours of sleep. So, I laid there and contemplated the day ahead, which entailed a gig at the Lake Grace Hotel at 7pm. I had lunch at the local cafe, which was very nice; a toasted silverside, cheese, and pickle sandwich and coffee, which was delicious.

I prepared my set list for the evening and had a nap. Boy, it felt like I hadn’t slept in days, and I found myself dozing on and off until 4:30pm.
This gave me enough time to have a shower and head to the pub to set up.
The room was bright and clean, ready for a night of musical entertainment by yours truly.
Lots of old friends came along, and my nephew and niece, Bailey and Latisha, arrived. It was so great to see them; hugs and laughs all around. They stayed until halfway through the gig as they had to head home for an early start the next day.
The highlight was seeing Grayson, Bailey’s son, dancing with his little mates on the dance floor. My mum was in the audience with her friends, and they sat and enjoyed the night while I played acoustic tunes until 10 pm.
I packed up and headed for home and was in bed before the stroke of midnight.

With a good sleep under my belt, I woke with the intention of heading to the town of Wagin, 110km away, for two gigs in two days. One at the Palace Hotel that night and one at the Australia Day celebration at the Wagin Wetlands Park under the Giant Ram, Sunday, January 26, 2025. Only to receive a message from the owner of the pub, Kristy, that morning, saying the gig had been cancelled due to the fires around Wagin town. Hearing the news of the fire saddened me because people’s properties were lost in the fire, with everything burnt except the clothes on their backs and the vehicle they used to get away from the fire.

I arrived in Wagin around 5pm and went straight to the accommodation that was arranged by Donna, the event organizer, who had left a key for me to find. I tried the first key only to find it wouldn’t turn in the lock. I tried the second, same result, the third, the fourth, still no avail; I tried again and again but still no luck, so I rang Donna and asked her if there was a trick to open the door. She said no, she must have given me the wrong key. She wasn’t far away, so I was in and ready to check it out.
The accommodation was the old NAB bank that had been turned into accommodation. I walked in; the room was hot, so I opened the windows that had no fly wire and turned the three-speed ceiling fan on full before heading for the pub.

As I sat in the Palace Hotel drinking a pint whilst watching the news unfold, telling of the aftermath of terrible bushfires caused by power poles igniting due to the humidity and moisture in the air, I could feel my throat tightening and the corners of my eyes welling up. I shook it off straight away and thought about something else. Just then, an old friend from Pingaring who had moved to Wagin stood at the end of the bar. I looked at him and said his name, and he instantly said mine in return. I hadn’t seen Mick for years. We shook hands, talked for a minute or two, and he invited me to sit with him and two local friends. We sat and ate Parmigianas while drinking down a pint.

I bid everyone goodnight and walked back to the accommodation, finding the room had cooled down. I noticed I was the only one in the whole place, which was nice. I slept with only a sheet over me and found the mattress to be a very comfortable pillow top. I checked my watch before closing my eyes to find it was 8:30 pm. Another early night. Boy, I needed it as the heat takes it out of you.

I awoke early Sunday, January 26, 2025. The time was 6:30am, well and truly before I had to head to the park for an Aussie day breakfast. I went through and prepared a set list for the day and headed down around 8:30 am. It seemed like I was late because everyone was eating some local bush tucker and enjoying the traditional bacon and eggs with cups of tea and coffee. The speeches had already begun. A slight panic came over me; was I late? I had followed the schedule. I needed to find Donna. They had started things early. No matter, I enjoyed a bush tucker breakfast and coffee and met up with Michelle, who I hadn’t seen for years. I wrote a song about her called “Hiding From The Past”. We sat and briefly chatted while eating our breakfast together. I decided I’d better go and unload my equipment and set up under the gazebo they had set up for me. I dragged the stage out of the way because it was too high and set up on the dirt under the shade of the gazebo. Phillip, the shire president, announced over the microphone, “Are you ready yet, Hayden?” In which I replied, “No.” He dragged things on for a few more minutes, and just like that, I was ready to perform some Australian classic songs, starting with “Home Among the Gum Trees” by John Williamson. I must’ve set up in world record time. The vibe was electric, and the air was beautiful and cool under the shade of native trees at the wetlands park.
Some people decided to head off, making use of the cool Sunday morning to go about their business. Many stayed and listened to me play, with Phillip, the Shire president, stepping in to sing some Aussie ballads himself. It gave me a chance to scoff some watermelon and rockmelon before taking the reins off Phillip until Donna said to call it a day.
I packed up and was on the road just after midday.

I unpacked the van, had lunch at home, and decided to go to the Jarrahdale tavern for a pint. I enjoyed a few drinks and decided I had better get home and rest up for the gig the next day, which was at 1pm in Lancelin.

I woke fresh and ready to hit the road Monday, January 27, 2025. I had a quick breakfast, made a coffee, and headed off for a 2-hour road trip to Lancelin. I arrived at the Endeavour tavern to find a clear, cool day with a nice breeze. I peered out to the ocean whitecaps with wind surfers and kite boarders bobbing in and out of the sea. The view was amazing. I set up under the veranda and used my Bose L1 with my Roland street cube as my foldback. The sound was immaculate as I strummed my mini Maton. I’m so surprised at how that little guitar sounds. It’s a pint-sized axe that is too big for its boots, only to find the boots fit like Cinderella slippers. That little guitar is something else. I had changed the strings to a heavier gauge, finding the tuning stayed solid for longer.

I plunked away for 4 hours, enjoying the view and the pleasant crowd’s positive response to my tunes. One bloke even tipped me a twenty-dollar bill. I ordered a pizza after my first set and munched away on half of it before stashing it in my van for leftovers.

I was three songs away from finishing up when I spied my cousin’s daughter walking through the beer garden. I thought to myself, “Surely it’s not.” I didn’t think much of it until I finished playing, and out walked Odette and Jarrad. “G’day, cobber,” said Jarrad. “Heeeey, Jarrad.” Hugs, smiles, and kisses all around. “Grab a beer and come join us at the table,” they said. There, I met Jarrad’s mate Daniel. They both work as industrial concrete contractors. I sat and chatted for a short while and said, “I gotta pack up and get going.” With that, they invited me to stay the night with them at Ledge Point, not far from Lancelin. I eagerly said yes.

I quickly packed my equipment and loaded it into the van. We hit the road with Odette riding shotgun with me, and Jarrad, Daniel, and the kids all piled into the ute. We called into the bottle shop, where I grabbed some Coopers and Odette some Coronas, and we arrived at their digs in the Ledge Point industrial area. The place was amazing, equipped with a big shed and nice living space. The power was out due to the recent pole fires that had affected their town. That didn’t matter so much as the backup solar and battery system had kicked in. They fed me fresh crayfish and lovely fresh roasted vegetables on the barbecue for dinner. Jarrad invited me to go and pull some cray pots the next morning at 5 am. I was eager to go on an adventure with Jarrad and Daniel.

Daniel’s boat was a ripper 15ft outboard aluminum hull sea monster that chopped its way through the swell where we found the four pots. We pulled the first to find one good-sized cray and two undersized ones that Jarrad threw back. The other three pots had zero catch. We re-baited them and threw them back for another day. Jarrad blamed me for the dismal catch, and we all had a good laugh.

We got back to the house for coffee, more chats, catch-ups, and laughs.

The boys had headed off to work, so I left them and headed back to Jarrahdale where I’m writing this blog. Enjoy until next time.

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